This Is The Good And Bad About Defra Approved Stove List

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in an area where smoking is controlled, it's important to purchase a DEFRA-exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested to ensure the lowest emission possible. Stoves that are certified as such typically have the word 'Defra approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove however this isn't true. In reality, a majority of cities and large towns are located in a smoke-free zone, but that doesn't mean you cannot have stoves, it just implies that you have to make use of an exempt device and only burn fuels that are approved (usually Briquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions it emits when burning approved materials. This means it can be used legally in areas of smoke control.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict criteria with regards to emissions So you can be sure that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and most efficient wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer may have taken measures to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes in the front of stove to allow full combustion of the 5kw multi fuel stoves defra approved, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

A stove that is Defra-approved allows you to use a 5" liner that is in compliance with UK building regulations. Non-DEFRA stoves comparison-approved stoves require a 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves and fireplaces as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future air quality standards at heart. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used conjunction with a smoke-control system for properties located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove that you can put in a smoke control area if you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and that they are only suitable for use with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not can be very minimal. With a kit from the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of just a few minutes. This is because buy DEFRA stoves approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept, the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it's burning. It is usually concealed within the stove or beneath the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the most reputable brands in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one of these. If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it is crucial that you purchase an DEFRA stoves Ratings approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA stoves installation approved stove, also called a smoke-free wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' in the front of its name, which means it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas if you burn approved fuels. In this case wood is the fuel.

Many older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter. These can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart issues. Therefore, it is essential to choose a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke-free zone you must be able to get it certified before you can use it. It can be time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stove that is not certified may be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, most modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is in normal operation. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Certain manufacturers make two types of wood stove, one that is Defra-approved and the other not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air included in the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could use any fuel they wanted to, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only authorised materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous tests to prove that they can burn cleanly authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, to ensure that even if the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who live in a smoke control zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no visual difference between a stove that is Defra-approved and one that isn't. However, the Defra-approved models do have a few features designed to help them burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate as well as air vents. On gas stoves they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless twin wall flexible liner that is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.